Desk-locking mechanism



Nov. 6, 1923. 1,472,841

G. w HUNT DESK LOCKING MECHANI SM Filed June- 25 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 6, 1923.

G. w. HUNT DESK LOCKING MECHANISM Filed June 25 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

STATES GEORGE W. HUNT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'I'O EMILY EVANSTOII, ILLINOIS.

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DESK-LOCKING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 25, 1920. Serial No. 391,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State 5 of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Desk-Locking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in desk locking mechanism, and more par ticularly to mechanism of the character described designed to effect the locking of all the drawers of a desk by the closing and locking of a single drawer thereof.

A desk to which my locking mechanism is especially designed is of the more familiar type in which the drawer arrangement consists of one or two vertical stacks mounted in pedestals at the ends. of the desk and an intermediate or center drawer located in the space between the pedestals, this drawer being provided with a key controlled lock operative when the drawer is closed.

Although it is known that numerous locking mechanisms have been devised which operate on the same principle as before announced, the present invention is the outcome of an endeavor to provide a dependable and efiicient form -of locking mechanism; that is a mechanism in which the locking action is positive and certain, and when locked is proof against unauthorized manipulation to a greater degree'than the ordinary mechanisms now in commercial use. The objects indicated, among others, are obtained by employing certain new and novel features of construction hereinafter described in detail, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in' front elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention, and showing two similar devices in locked and unlocked positions,

Fig.2 is a view in vertical section taken on line 22 of Figure 1, I

Fig, 3 is a detailed view in cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Figure .1, and

Fig. '4: is a view in side elevation of a portion of the center drawer showing the inclined channel member and the bar actuating member as taken on line 44: of Figure 1. a V- The locking mechanism .is by preference shown as installed in a desk of metal'con-' struction, comprising pedestals 1- -1 ,in which are formed compartments for receiving a number of vertically disposed slidingdrawers 2, there being illustrated three drawers in each pedestal- The pedestals are similarly constructed in all respects, and as will be seen, the locking mechanism is duplicated in connection with each series of drawers or sliding units 2 thereofyhence a detailed description of a single mechanism will suffice for both. The pedestals asjhereinbefore suggested are spaced apart,;and a comparatively wide and shallow?v center drawer or separatesliding'unit 3 is mounted between the pedestals "and adjacent the upper portions thereof, the sides. of the center drawer lying in close proximity to'ithe inner-and opposed surfaces of the pedestals. A flat top 4: is mounted upon and covers the top surfaceof the desk.

Referring more in detail to the structural features of those parts of the desk associated with the locking mechanism, the pedestals 11 comprise hollow corner parts or .col-. umns 5+5 of sheet metal which extend transversely inthe form of double'wall The drawers are mounted to slide on longitudinal tracks 8 and equipped with guide rails 9 and otherwise constructed in the usual manner to facilitate thesmoothsliding movement thereof; 5

The center drawer is similarly mounted, there beingformed a compartmentjustbeneath the top 4, provided with tracks .10 along the sides thereof, and a bottom wall 11 forming a closure therefor. The locking mechanism now to be described is preferably located at the front of the desk and within hollow vertical spacesxat the inner forward corners of the pedestals, the sheet metal. structure of the desk lending itselftothe particular mode of installation vherein disclosed. f I

v The main element of the locking mecha-. nism is a vertically movable locking-bar 12 of L or angle shape in section (FigureB), the same being mounted with one :of its webs 13 flatwise against the insid wall 6*, of the pedestal panel 6, just beyond the column 5;

PARSONS HUNT, or

wall 6 terminating adjacent sides of the sliding pedestal'drawers 2 as shown in Figure 3. Secured to th side wall of each drawer is a yieldable member in the form of 'a spring clip 18 extending longitudinally thereof with its free end facing forwardly and spaced from the side wall of the drawer. As will hereinafter appear, the clips are so located as to abut against the arms 16 of the locking bar, when the latter is in locking position, and the drawer is closed; thus preventing the opening of said drawers.

At the upper end of the locking bar is provided another arm '19 likewise'secured to :the web 15 of said bar, although projecting horizontally. in the opposite direction (through slots 2020 formed in the outer wall 6 of the panel 6 and in the track 10 of the center drawer 3) and terminating in a reduced end or lug 19 in close proximity to the center drawer. Secured to the side wall of the center drawer, and adjacent the front end or head 3 thereof is a channel member v.21 (Figure l) inclined downwardly from 35' front to rear at an angle of substantially thirty degrees (30). The channel member opens laterally and within the same rides the lug 19 of the arm 19. Manifestly the opening and closing of the center drawer actuates the locking bar through the engagement of the arm 19 and the channel 21,

which occurs at the commencement of the drawer movement in opening, and similarly at the end of the drawe movement in closing. The arrangementof the mechanism is such that the closing of the center drawer produces an upward endwise movement of the locking bar into lockingposition, and in the same manner the opening of the drawer forces the bar down into. unlocked position,

. the channel member 21 then being drawn forwardly out of engagement with the lug '19 of the arm 19. In Figure 1 the positions of the parts in locked and unlocked position "is clearly shown, the right hand pedestal drawersbeing unlocked and the left hand drawer being locked. In the first instance the bar 12 is lowered so that the clips 18 clear the arms 16, and in the second instance the bar is lifted so that the arms 16 project into the path of the clips, which, if behind the arms, as when the drawers are completely closed, abut against said arms and "prevent the outward movement thereof.

It is manifest that the center drawer may readily be closed and the locking bar thrown into locking posltion even though the pedestal drawer remains open and unlocked. In order to provide for sucha condition, the yielding clips ar employed, these members being capable of forcing the projecting arms in the movement of the drawers into closed position by the flattening or yielding of the free end portions. Upon passing the arms, these clips resume their normal positions and the drawers are then locked from outward movement. In short, the pedestal drawers may be locked subsequent to the locking of the center drawer by simply closing them.

The location of the inclined channel '21 adjacent the front end of the drawerprovides L01 the prompt locking and unlocking of the drawers; that is by the comparatively limited movement of the center drawer. The use of a channel shaped actuating member or cam insures the positive movement of the locking bar in both directions;- thus the locking and unlocking is certain and the annoyance of uncertain action'is eliminated. Moreover, the use of springs and gravity actuated devices is avoided; thus the operating of the locking mechanism is not dependent upon the position of the desk or is it effected by the displacement of loose parts in handling. It is to be observed that the entire mechanism is practically enclosed within the metal walls of the desk structure, and even the most vulnerable point, the operating lug 19 is enclosed within the channel, and hence proof against picking or being tampered with by dishonest persons desiring =to open the drawers when the desk is locked.

-.ilthough the mechanism is especially suited for desks, or furniture of like character of metal construction, the principles thereof arereadily applicable to all types of furniture, and for this reason I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction herein described and illustrated, except in so far'as the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as-my invention:

1. In a desk locking device, the combination of a vertical pedestal, drawers mounted in said pedestal, an endwise shiftable locking bar mounted at the front of said pedestal and extending vertically along the sides of said drawers, locking members carried by said drawers and said bar and adapted for locking engagement when said bar is lifted into locking position, and an.

inclined channel member mounted on the side of one of saiddrawers adapted to en-' gage a coacting lug on said barto lift the same into drawer locking position.

2. In a desk locking device, the combination of a vertical pedestal, drawers'mounted in said pedestal, an endwise shiftable locking bar mounted adjacent one side of said drawers and normally held in unlocked position by gravity, coacting locking members on said drawers and bar for locking said drawers, and a relatively short inclined channel member mounted near the forward end of one of said drawers and adapted to pickup a projection on said bar to lift the same into locking position in the final closing movement of said drawer. 3. In a device of the character described, the combiation of a pedestal, drawers 7 mounted in said pedestal, a locking bar movable endwise adjacent said drawers and normally held in unlocking position by gravity, and provided with transverse arms extending laterally from said locking bar into the path of said drawers, locking memberson said drawers adapted to engage the arms of said locking bar in locking position, one of said drawers being provided with a laterally facing inclined channel member adapted to receive one of said arms of the locking bar to positively shift the same endwise during the final and initial movement in closing and opening of said last mentioned drawer. y

4:. In a desk locking mechanism, the combination with a desk comprising a pedestal having a hollow column at one end thereof, drawers mounted in said pedestal, an endwise movable lockin bar mounted within said column and provided with locking arms extending through slots formed'in the wall of said column, co-acting locking members mounted on said drawers, said bar beingnormally held by gravity in drawer unlocking position, and a laterally facing inclined channel member mounted on one of said drawers, and engaging and enclosing a projecting lug carried by said locking bar whereby said bar is positively lifted into locking position by the closing of said last mentioned drawer. r

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of June, A. 1).,

GEORGE W; HUNT. 

